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J. KNIGHT.

. METALLIC REVERSIBLE GOVERING EUR TEE TREADS 0E STAIRS, Rc.

No. 402,745. Patented May '7, 1889.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. KNIGHT.

Patented'May 7, 1889.

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(No Modem METALLIC REVERSIBLE GOVERING EOE THE TREADS 0E STAIES,-&c. No. 402,745.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. KNIGHT. METALLIC REVERSIBLE GOVERING EUR TEE TREADS 0E STAIRS, &G. No. 402.745. Patented May '7, 1889..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.V

JOHN KNIGHT, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

METALLIC REVERSIBLE COVERING FOR THE TREADS 0F STAIRS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,745, dated May 7, 1889.

Application iiled May 23, 1888. Serial No. 274.861. (No model.) Patented in England November 3, 1887, No. 14,990..

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KNIGHT,builder, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of London, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Treads for Steps and for Similar Purposes, composed of any material whatsoever, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain, No. 14,990, bearing date November 3, 1887,) of which the following is a specification` This invention has for its obj ects to provide a novel stair-tread wherein a metallic supporting-frame is provided with a reversible slab of lead or similar material, and a portion of lead or similar material covers a nose at the front of the metallic frame, so that there is no slipping-surface at such edge, and, whereby the slab, when worn, can be reversed to present a new surface.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical central section through a step of a stair, showing one form of my improved tread. Fig. 2 is a plan. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are vertical central sections showing modiiicat-ions of my invention, hereinafter described.

Like letters indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.

a is a step of a stair, constructed of wood, stone, or other material.

b is the tread, which consists, preferably, of a slab of hardened cast lead.

c is a frame of any suitable metal in which the hardened cast-lead slab or tread b is fitted.

d is a round nose under the front edge of the tread b. The hardened cast-lead slab or tread b is retained in position by two or more screws, e, passing through metal washers f, which are countersunk in the said slab or tread b, so as to be ush with the same. lVhen the slab or tread b is xed to a stone step, the screws e are preferably arranged to screw into metal dowels e', which are secured in suitable holes in the said stone step by being run in with Portland cement, lead, or other suitable material. For purposes of advertisement, notices, directions, or the like, I cast metal letters g in the slab or tread b in such amanner as to be flush with the same.

The slab or tread b is sometimes rounded off at the extremities b', Fig. l, so that when one side of the said tread has been worn away it can be turned round to present the other side for wear. In this case I sometimes cast in the metal letters for advertisementsv or the like at both sides of the slab or tread b. Vhen the slab or tread I) is worn out or when it is desired to alter the matter represented by the letters cast in the said slab or tread, the said letters can be recovered by melting down the slab or tread, and can then be again employed in a similar manner, if desired.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of my inven tion, wherein the slab or tread b is provided with a rabbet-joint, h, adapted to iit in a corresponding portion, i, of the frame c. In this instance there is provided a square nose, d', at the front. When the slab or tread h is worn at the part or portion near the edge of the step, it can be turned end for end, so as to bring another surface-that is to say, the inner portion of the said slab or tread-near the 4 edge of the said step.

Fig. 4 shows another modiication, in which the nose comprises a separate metal frame, j, having a chamber containing a cast-lead iilling, d2, which can be renewed when worn by removing the worn lling and iiowing melted lead into the chamber of the frame.

Fig. 5 shows a modication wherein the rabbet-joint is dispensed with and the reversible cast slab b is formed square at its inner and outer edges, while the lead iilling d2 in the separate frame j abuts against the outer edge of the cast slab.

In Fig. l the frame is not rabbeted, and it extends around three sides only of the cast slab or tread b, as shown in Fig. 2, while the nose d may be a separate piece of metal.

In Fig. 3 the framec is the same as in Figs. 1 and 2, except that it may extend around all four sides of the cast-lead slab b, in which event the metal nose d may be a part of the frame.

In Fig. 4 the frame c extends around all four sides of the cast-lead slab b,while in Fig. 5 the frame c extends around three sides only of the slab or tread I?.

In each of the constructions shown a por- IOO tion of hardened lead extends over the metal nose yat the front edge of the metal frame c. For the purpose of clearly understanding my invention and claim, the hardened-lead portion shown in the framej, Figs. 4 and 5, may be regarded as a continuation of the slab or tread b, and so regarded it Will be seen that a hardened-lead slab or tread extends over the nose d, Figs. l and 2, and d', Fig. 3, and j, Figs. 4 and 5. By this means hardened lead extends over the metallic nose and affords the bearing or tread surface for the feet, thereby avoiding the danger of slipping.

Instead of lead I may employ other similar metal or alloy.

That I claim isl. A stair-tread consisting of a metallic frame, c, a nose at its front, a reversible slab, ZJ, having recesses in its treading-surface, the plates f, fitted in said recesses flush with the slab, and the screws c, detachably securing the slab, so that itcan be reversed, substan- .tially as described.

2. A stair-tread consisting of a metallic supporting-frame and a nose at its front edge and a reversible slab of hardened lead or similar material removably located in the frame and extending over the nose of the metallic 5. The combination, with the metallic sup! porting-frame c and the reversible cast-metal slab b, of the separate metallic frame j, containing a lead or similar filling to form the nose d2, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. G. WILDSMITH,

O'Zerk. J oHN JoHNsoN,

58 llarszmn Street. 

